Jeremiah 37

Zedekiah though disobedient yet sendeth to Jeremiah to request his intercession to God for him forasmuch as it seemed that the Chaldeans being engaged against Pharaoh might indeed wholly leave the siege verse1,2 c but obtaineth an answer that Pharaoh would desist and that the Chaldean should return and take and burn the city though they were never so few and weak 6 so Jeremiah upon occasions of the Chaldeans breaking up seeketh to go forth out of the city but is apprehended and brought unto the princes bitten and put into a loath form prison 11 from whence Zedekiah secretly causeth him to be fetch to hear some comfortable thing of him but still hath the same answer yet at his request causeth him to be brought again to the former prison 16.

1. And Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned being king [see the same phrase above chapter 23.5] instead of Conia the son of Jojakim[see of him above chapter 22 on verse 24 others king Zedekiah reigned instead c some conceive that this phrase here is so used of Zedekiah because Conia otherwise called Jechonia or Jojakim his predecessors had reigned but three months and was not reputed as king compare above chapter 36.30 with the annotate] with Zedekiah[see 1 Kings 24 on verse 17]Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel had make king in the land of Judah.

2. But he hearkened not hear nor his servant [that is officers and courtiers] nor the people of the land unto the word of the Lord which he spake by ministry[Heb hand] of the prophet Jeremiah.

3. Yet King Zedekiah sent Juchal the son of Selemja and Zephanja the son of Maaseja the priest unto the prophet Jeremiah to say pray now unto the Lord our God for us [see the prosecution of this verse 6.]

4. For Jeremiah was yet coming in or going out in the midst of the people [that is he conversed yet freely among the people performing his office without any let hindrance at all compare Deuteronomy 31 on verse 2] and they had not yet put him into prison [Heb properly house of shutting up or detention restraint so below verse 15,18 as if we should say lock house verse 15 called also the house of bond that is of bond as if we should say binding house.]

5. And Pharaoh’s army [the king of Egypt’s army who Zedekiah and the Jews had called to their aid and assistance against Nebuchadnezzar of this name Pharaoh see Genesis 12 on verse 15] was marched forth out of Egypt and the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem when they had heard the report of them [of the Egyptians]then they were marched up [that is marched away broke up as above chapter 34.21 and below verse 11.] from Jerusalem.

6. Then the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah saying:

7. Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel that shall say to the king of Judah that sent you unto me to enquire of me behold Pharaoh’s army which is come forth to help you shall return into their own land into Egypt.

8. And the Chaldeans shall return and fight against this city and they shall take and shall burn it with fire.

9. Thus saith the Lord deceive not your soul [that is yourselves below chapter 38 on verse 17] saying the Chaldeans shall surely depart [Heb. Departing depart] from us for they shall not depart[to wit quiet so as that they shall not reassume the siege or that they should not look for their coming again.]

10. For though you shall smite the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you and they should remain but some wounded[or stabbed] men of them yet should they get them up every man of his tent and burn this city with fire.

11. Moreover it came to pass when the army of the Chaldeans was marched up from Jerusalem because Pharaoh’s army [as above verse 5.]

12. That Jeremiah went forth out of Jerusalem to go in the land of Benjamin [being his own country were Anathoth lay] to depart thence [from Jerusalem] through the midst of the people [or to slip away to get away privily amongst the multitude of the people that now returned home in their own dwellings in regard of the breaking up of the Babylonians.]

13. When he was in the gate of Benjamin [through which a man went to the land of Benjamin] there was a captain of the guard whose name was Jerija the son of Selemja the son of Henanja he took hold of Jeremiah the prophet saying thou wilt fall to the Chaldeans [that is go over revolt depart go over to the enemy Heb. Thou art falling c.]

14. And Jeremiah said it is false I will not fall to the Chaldeans yet he hearkened not unto him [Jerija hearkened not unto Jeremiah he believed him not] but Jerija took hold of Jeremiah and brought him to the princes.

15. And the princes were very angry with Jeremiah and smote him and they put him [that is they caused him to be smitten and to be put c] in the prison house Heb. House of bond see above on verse 4] in the house of Jonathan the scribe for they had made that a prison house of shutting up as above verse 4.]

16. When Jeremiah was entered into the place of the pit [Heb house c which is also taken for place understand here a deep filthy underground prison or dungeon] and into the cabins [or little holes or little chambers which are wont to be in such kind of prison] and Jeremiah had sate there many days [that is a long time others so Jeremiah remained there afterwards.]

17. Then king Zedekiah sent and caused him to be fetched [Heb. Took him that is caused him to be taken thence to be brought to him see Genesis 12 on verse 15and above chapter 36.21and below chapter 38.14and 40.1,2c] and the king asked him secretly in his house and said is there also a word from the Lord?[hath God revealed any new prophesies unto thee concerning this our sad condition ? hence it appeareth that the king held Jeremiah to be a true prophet of God and yet not withstanding suffered him to be so badly used see below chapter 38.5 and compare Mark 6.20c] and Jeremiah said there is and thou shalt be delivered into the hand of King of Babel.

18. Moreover Jeremiah said unto the king Zedekiah what have I sinned against thee and against thy servant or against this people that ye have put me in prison? [As above verse 4.]

19. Where are now your prophets [meaning your false prophets] which prophesied unto ye saying the king of Babel shall not come against you or against this land?

20. Now then hear I pray thee O my Lord the king I let my supplication I pray thee fall down before thy face [that is let me I pray thee that is fall down before thee with supplication prevail with thee be pleasing or acceptable unto thee see above chapter 36on verse 7] and bring me not [that is cause me not to be brought again or cause me not to return] again into the house of Jonathan the scribe left I die there.

21. Then king Zedekiah gave charge and appointed Jeremiah [or delivered him to be kept committed him compare above chapter 36 on verse 20] into the court of the custody [see above chapter 32 on verse 2] and they gave him a loaf of bread [see Judges 8 verse 5 with the annotate] daily out of the bakers street until all the bread of the city was up [or was at end was spent] thus Jeremiah remained or sate in the court of custody.